Welcome Home, Amy - and welcome back to planDisney! I'm so glad I get to try my hand at assisting with another excellent question to help you prep for your 2025 vacation at
Walt Disney World Resort. It's always so great to meet a fellow
Disney Vacation Club Member. Let's jump right into the details of making
dining reservations for your group!
One of my favorite parts of any Disney vacation is undoubtedly the food. Our family's strategy is to plan some meals at our favorite places, and try a new restaurant or two! Some newer spots at
Disney Springs that I am currently obsessed with are
Summer House on the Lake and
eet by Maneet Chauhan - I highly recommend both.
Amy, you're correct that you can't book two dining reservations for the same time - the online system won't allow it. You can always try and make a reservation for 9, but often you won't see much availability as many Walt Disney World restaurants have tables that seat a maximum of 6.
In my experience making plans for a larger group, it's best to designate a planning partner. Each of you can make a reservation for part of the group for the same time (or close to it) to accommodate everyone. Plan to arrive a little early for your reservations, and at check-in, request that your parties be seated near each other. While this can't be guaranteed, the Cast Members will do their best to make it happen. You may need to wait a bit for tables to open up, so pack your patience and perhaps some activities to occupy any younger Mouseketeers. Sticker books and simple games were always a hit with my kiddos!
Your 60-day window to begin making dining reservations will open in March, so be sure to mark your calendar and set an alarm so you can pounce on those bookings starting at 7:00 AM (EST). Amy, it's been a treat seeing you again at planDisney - don't hesitate to stop by again as your vacation approaches if we can add a little extra pixie dust!
Stay Magical!
Susan